Second Generation Theatre offers a variety of paid and free theatre arts and dance education to students aged 5 through adulthood! Whether you have a child who loves to sing and dance, a student who is looking to stretch their creativity and make new friends while building new skills, or you are an adult who wants to jump back into dance, Second Generation Theatre Academy is for you!

Unleash your inner scientist in these large, interactive science shows! Nutty Scientists Hudson Valley brings affordable and fun science shows to your school – designed to ignite children’s curiosity and foster an environment where the entire audience feels encouraged to participate. Each show has an imaginative storyline coupled with 6-8 hands-on exciting experiments. With Nutty Scientists, kids get to touch, jump, yell, vibrate, form and test hypotheses. We aim to boost children’s curiosity about science and confidence in themselves! Age: 4-12 Length: 45 minutes Size: Suitable for up to 200 kids, but we do back-to-back performances for more. Prices: $375 for one show or $300/show for 2 or more shows + travel fee (call for info). Funding can be used from BOCES Arts and Education category OR the Exploratory Enrichment category. Shows: Ice Age Show: The kids will help our scientist overcome incredible challenges within the secret forest of Merlin the Wizard by performing exciting experiments. Students will be immersed in a sensory experience surrounding the amazing properties of CO2 and dry ice while exploring states of matter, sublimation, chemical reactions, pressure, forces, and more. Cast Away Show: Help our Nutty Scientist who is lost on a desert island! Kids will help the lost scientist get food, water and signal for rescue. Along the way they'll fire rockets, make slime, shoot smoke rings, and see amazing electrical demonstrations with a Van De Graaff generator! Fun Mission to Space Show: The Nutty Scientists has been entrusted with a maximum-security space mission. What will it take to survive in space? Where in the solar system should we land? To answer these questions students will assist with crazy experiments. They will learn about the planets, gravity, orbits, properties of sound, near-vacuum conditions, atmospheric pressure, and volcanic reactions! Kids will also help make a comet using the same elements that are found in real comets. Ignite Curiosity! Think Nutty!

Award-winning music producer Brent Daniels uses the latest technology to sculpt sound and create music for many of the movie and TV trailers your students see everyday, including Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Disney’s A Wrinkle In Time and Star Wars: The Bad Batch. His online Virtual Trailer Music workshops show K-12 students how their everyday devices are used by professionals to create the music and sounds they love, and how they can do it too. How many of your students could graduate to creative careers? Brent’s workshops illuminate the possibilities, more numerous than ever before.

Theatre for Young Audiences at the Historic Cohoes Music Hall Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Cohoes Music Hall, the 4th oldest operating music hall in the U.S., with our annual Theatre for Young Audiences productions! Hosted at this iconic venue, these lively, educational musicals bring beloved characters to life, blending classroom lessons, catchy tunes, and plenty of laughs for audiences of all ages. Introducing students to theatre arts fosters creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving while connecting classroom learning to the stage. Our shows offer students the opportunity to experience the thrill of live theatre, learn proper theatre etiquette, and engage in post-show discussions that enhance camaraderie and conversation in the classroom. Educators will also receive a curriculum-based activity packet before the performance, designed to explore the creative process and core themes of the production.

A violinist and string teacher of 30 years of experience, I offer PD presentations for music teachers such as: "Troubleshooting String Technique Issues," "Jazz Composition in Middle School String Orchestra," "How to help your students manage Performance Anxiety." I also have presentations/workshops for string students, grades 3-12: "Vibrato: basics," "The Process of Sight Reading" In addition, I am available as a teacher coach for music teachers who are new to teaching string instruments (such as a band teacher who gets assigned strings in their school).

I am a children's picture book illustrator and author. My most well-known illustrated books include "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind", "One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia" and "Grandpa Cacao: a Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family". I work in paint and cut paper collage, and offer school presentations and classroom workshops about my artistic process.

For over 20 years, Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra have been visiting schools, ranging from elementary to universities, performing on and demonstrating Afro-Caribbean instruments, roots and rhythms. They have provided a comprehensive and student tailored lecture/demo/hands-on program that has proven extremely successful and well received at the schools. These "assemblies" consist of three components. First the lecture component which provides knowledge, insight and answers the who, what, where and when. The second component is the demo. During the demo component the orchestra performs the Afro-Caribbean rhythms such as salsa, cha-cha & merengue. The third component is the "hands-on" component which is everyone's favorite part. Students are invited up on stage to perform a few bars of music with the musicians and become part of the band! The students realize many aspects of the music including that many of the Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments play an integral part in the music and also gain a sense of respect for the instruments and the performers. The orchestra has performed Arts In Education in over 100 schools, colleges and universities. For more information on our program, please call (518) 330-6917.

The Career Day Inc. Full Day Program offers a transformative experience that connects students with a diverse range of professionals across industries and backgrounds. Speakers include school alumni and local professionals who share their personal journeys and practical insights, encouraging students to explore their interests and make informed decisions about their futures. The day begins with a high-energy keynote assembly, delivered by a dynamic speaker whose story sets an empowering tone. This opening session inspires students to embrace their unique talents and approach their futures with confidence. Following the keynote, students rotate through career-specific breakout sessions based on interests of THEIR CHOICE. In these smaller classroom settings, they engage directly with professionals—from electricians and engineers to artists and healthcare workers—who demonstrate how academic subjects like math, science, or art apply in real-world careers. For many students, these connections illuminate unexpected pathways, such as how a love of drawing could lead to a career in surgery, architecture, or design. All participating students are invited to apply for the Arie A. Bucheister Memorial Scholarship, a $1,000 award granted to one student per school. The scholarship honors those who express how Career Day Inc. programs influenced their educational and career aspirations and encouraged lasting connections with mentors and potential career opportunities. Each Full Day Program is customized in collaboration with school administrators to meet the unique needs, schedules, and demographics of the school community. By introducing students to a wide spectrum of careers and pushing them to think beyond their comfort zones, Career Day Inc. empowers students of all academic levels to pursue exciting and often unimaginable possibilities. The Career Day Inc. Panel Style Assembly offers students a dynamic and inspiring experience by connecting them with a diverse panel of professionals across various industries. Each program is customized in collaboration with school administrators to reflect the interests, demographics, and goals of the student population. Career Day Inc. curates engaging speakers, including school alumni, local professionals, and subject-matter experts—who share personal stories, career insights, and advice for future success. Panels typically feature three to seven presenters, depending on the school’s schedule. A key feature of the program is student interaction. Ample time is provided for Q&A, and students are encouraged to submit questions in advance. The most thoughtful questions are highlighted and rewarded during the event to promote deeper engagement. To enhance the impact, many schools now include breakout sessions following the panel. These smaller group discussions allow students to connect more personally with the speaker or field that resonates most with their career goals, heritage, or cultural identity. The Career Day Inc. Panel Assembly fosters an inclusive, student-centered environment that broadens awareness of real-world career paths and empowers students to make informed decisions about their futures.

We offer dynamic, bilingual programs tailored for our diverse community, showcasing author visits, writing workshops, poetry readings, and engaging cultural events. Through immersive experiences, we celebrate heritage as our superpower, focusing on Afro-Caribbean culture and exploring themes like personal and cultural identity, belonging, migration, and family values. Our programs are designed to be engaging and culturally responsive, offering a rich fusion of experiences for all.

Via Aquarium is the only full-scale aquarium in the Capital Region. We provide an avenue for students of all ages to explore the natural world from freshwater to saltwater and even terrestrial life with reptiles and amphibians. If your school can't make their way to us, our education team can travel with select animals to provide these experiences within your classroom. Field Trips - $12 admissions per student, free admissions for staff, $14 admissions for chaperones, $5 for add-on educational programs, and $10/cup of stingray food. Outreach Programs are $350 for a 60-minute program, $200 for a 30-minute session, and any session after that is discounted. Our travel fee is $0.75 per mile over 30 in both directions (i.e. first 60 miles are excluded in the fee). Programs are available for students in preschool through high school.

Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens provides visitors with an immersive connection to the calming and restorative power of plants. Through our living collections and imaginative programming, we create memorable experiences that inspire curiosity about our natural world. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens welcomes everyone to engage with our gardens, historic conservatory, and each other. The Botanical Gardens' Education Team offers a number of fun and engaging hands-on field trips for students in grades Pre-K-12.

The Arts Engagement and Education Department serves as a vital bridge between artistic expression and community involvement. Rooted in the belief that art is transformative and essential for personal and societal growth, the department is dedicated to fostering creativity, nurturing talent, and promoting cultural understanding through various educational and engagement initiatives. Our mission is to enrich lives and strengthen communities through the power of the arts. By providing accessible and inclusive arts education, innovative programs, and meaningful community engagements, we aim to inspire creativity, cultivate diverse talents, and foster a deep appreciation for the arts. We offer many programs such as Junior Theatre Celebration, On School Time performances, a high school musical theatre awards program, residencies, 4 theatre camps, and more.